English Original
It was late fall on a remote reservation in South Dakota. The tribe asked their new chief if the coming winter would be cold or mild.
As a modern chief, he hadn't learned the old ways of reading the sky. Unsure, he advised his people to gather firewood, just to be safe.
Being practical, he later called the National Weather Service. "Will the winter be cold?" he asked.
"It looks quite cold," the meteorologist replied.
The chief urged his tribe to gather even more firewood. A week later, he called again for confirmation.
"Yes, a very cold winter," was the answer.
He ordered his people to collect every scrap of wood they could find. Two weeks later, he called once more.
"Are you absolutely sure?"
"Absolutely," the weatherman said. "It's shaping up to be one of the coldest winters we've seen."
"How can you be so sure?" the chief asked.
The weatherman replied, "Because the Indians are collecting firewood like crazy."
中文翻译
深秋时节，在南达科他州一个偏远的保留地，部落成员询问他们的新酋长，即将到来的冬天会是寒冷还是温和。
作为一名现代酋长，他并未学过观察天象的古老方法。由于不确定，为了保险起见，他建议族人收集柴火。
出于务实考虑，他随后致电国家气象局。"冬天会冷吗？"他问道。
气象学家回答："看起来会相当冷。"
酋长于是敦促族人收集更多柴火。一周后，他再次致电确认。
"是的，会是一个非常寒冷的冬天，"对方答道。
他命令族人尽其所能收集每一片木柴。又过了两周，他再次打电话。
"你绝对肯定吗？"
"绝对肯定，"气象员说，"看起来将是我们见过的最寒冷的冬天之一。"
"你怎么能如此肯定？"酋长问。
气象员回答："因为印第安人正在疯狂地收集柴火。"